If it had been a week of soul-searching for everyone connected with Everton then this result will not have provided the answers they were looking for.

A draw with Watford has stopped the rot of three consecutive Premier League defeats but it cannot have brought an end to the question marks hanging ominously over this team.

Without doubt, the Blues were much better than their wretched performances of late - they'd have done well to be much worse - yet the final whistle was still greeted by a smattering of boos from the disgruntled fans in away end.

Clearly, they remain unconvinced and unimpressed , and with concerns over their on-field chemistry dominating the week, they watched an Everton side still in search of that winning formula in the league.

There wasn't much quality on show, especially in the final third, and the sub-plot to their miserable league season was told once again as they held their lead for less than one, miserly, minute.

Yet there at least was more about Everton today than there has been, a greater energy, determination, and they were the side who probably should have won.

But maybes and what ifs clearly won't cut it with supporters right now and the point against a struggling Watford, who have won just won two of their last 15 league games, actually sees Everton drop to 14th in the Premier League table with seven games of the season remaining.

A damning reflection, if ever there was one, of a campaign of under-achievement and the jeers at full-time, for a third consecutive league game, weren't total but certainly audible.

"Time for the work in progress excuse is over"

For the fans, this cannot be a time for their side to be a work-in-progress.

Sure there was enough during the 90 minutes to give the travelling Blues reason to believe that their side could win this game, something in short supply recently, but heading down the final straight this team – with all its talent - should not be trying to put the pieces back together.

Martinez was encouraged by Everton's display but he cannot claim there was more in this performance than there was, or hide from the fact that the same shortcomings remain in this team, because they do.

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Watford 1-1 Everton

And, in such a season, it was perhaps appropriate that Everton would take the lead in time added on yet still manage to give it up.

James McCarthy's persistence won him reward on the stroke of half-time as he dispossessed Miguel Britos on the edge of the Watford area and then fired his side in front with a low finish.

But in less than a minute, Everton needlessly conceded a corner and then defended poorly to allow Jose Holebas to head home to make it 1-1.

"Defensive frailties littered throughout the season"

These defensive frailties, littered throughout the season, have contributed to their confidence taking a battering.

It needs to be patched up, soothed and healed in time for Wembley later this month because their season will be defined 10 miles from here at the national stadium, and fears over Phil Jagielka's fitness will have compounded the defensive headache.

Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka.

Martinez, however, will hope this performance is a step in the right direction, even if they have dropped further in the table in the process, and is sure to have been comforted by Gareth Barry's return to the side , after suspension.

It was a relief, all round, to have him back.

Barry was excellent but even he couldn't help conjure a win that they craved.

"Everton pushed the hardest for victory"

Neither side did enough to get it, but to their credit it was Everton who pushed that bit harder and had Romelu Lukaku hit the target instead of the bar with two minutes left, they may have nicked the points.

Heurelho Gomes also denied the lively Aaron Lennon, twice, in an open second-half period. But for all its end to end nature, clear cut chances were thin on the ground as Everton struggled to capitalise on several promising breaks and darts down the flanks.

Gerard Deulofeu and Jose Holebas in action

Gerard Deulofeu, in particular, endured a frustrating afternoon.

The best chances came in a flurry of action late on and after Lukaku's miss. Everton required a last-ditch save, at full stretch, from Joel Robles to stop Ben Watson winning it for Watford and heaping more pressure on his old boss.

That scrutiny was there for all to see before kick-off with one banner in the away end reading 'Martinez Out' but their support was unwavering throughout the game, as the manager made strong reference to afterwards.

But the reaction at full-time perhaps better reflected the mood at the moment. It's time for Everton to start turning those jeers into cheers.

Everton fan Callum Tomkins age 9 with banner before the match at Vicarage Road